Grain-meter.



110.395,234.' PATENTE!) AUG.4, 19oa. J. s. BLA-mm. f

GRAIN METER. APPLICATION FILED- DEO. 8,A1 9071.

2 SHBETs-snnm- 1,

JOHN s. BLAKELY, or WELLINGTON, Kass-S11 GRAIN-METER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, J OHN S. BLAKELY, citizenof the United States, residing at 'ellington, in the county of Sumner 'and State of Kansas, have invented certain .new and useful Im rovements in Grain-Meters, of which the fol owing is a specication.

The present invention relates to improvements in giain meters and aims to provide a device of this character which can be readily utilized in connection with threshing machines, grain elevators and the like for quickly and accurately determining the quantity of grain discharged from the same.

The invention fui-ther contemplates a. grain meter which is simple and inexpensive in its construction and which embodies a compact mechanism adapted to be installed in a comparatively simili amount of space.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge et the details of construction and the means for electing the result, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation showing the improved grain meter mounted in cooperative relation to a grain elevator. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view of the scale beam. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view through the device. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view through the rotary hopper. Fig. 5 is a similar view through the upper portion of the casing inclosing the hopper.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the saine reference characters.

The grain meter embodied by the present invention is designed to be employed in connection with any conventional type of threshing machine, separator or the like and for the purpose of illustration is shown in the present instance as mounted to receive grain from t-he delivery spout 1 oban elevator 2. In general the meter comprises a rotary hopper journaled directly upon a scale beam, means being provided for locking the hopper against lrotation when overbalanced by the poise uponthe scale beam and held in an elevated position," and for releasing the hopper to permit of thehotation thereof and the consequent discharge ofthe grain therefrom when the weight of the grain `.becomes sullicient t-o overbalance the poise and` depress the hoppei'. As shown on the drawings this rotary j 'Specification of Letters Patent. Application iled December 6, 1.907. Serial No. 405,431.

hopper embodies the circular end' pieces 3 connected by the radial partitions .4 subdi-V viding the hopper into a plurality of coinpartments designed to be brought successivelyinto anoperative position, asthe help# j per is rotated.l in the present instance t. e end .pieces 3.are joined by four of the radial partitions and a corresponding number of the compartments 5 are formed. 'lhis hopperisv journaled between the two arms of a U shaped rammed Aug. 4, 1908.

scale beam 6 at the extremities thereof, and

the said arms of the scale beam are pivotally mounted at an intermediate point upon slotted standards 7 projecting iijiwardly from corresponding points upon horizontal bars'S at opposite ends of the lio iper. These bars 8 support an approximate y semi-cylindrical casing 9 inclosing the upper portion of the hopper, the ends of the casing being formed with flanges V310 fitting closely around the edges of the disks 3 so as to prevent any leakage' of grain between the said members. This casing 9 is provided at its upper portion with a stop 11 designed toengage projections 12 upon the rotary hoppei' and to hold the various compartments of the hoppei' successively under the delivery spout l of the grain elevator. These projections 12 are preferably in the nature of cross bars connecting opposite sides of the hopper.

The outer end of the scale beam 6 is constituted by a. cross bar located upon the exterior of the casing 9 and carryinv a weight 13 designed to counterbalance the hopper and normally hold the saine in an elevated vposition so thatI the stop 11 is disposed in the Adjustably pat-l1 of the project-ions 12. mounted upon each of the arms of the scale beam is a poise 14 for determining the weight of the grain which must be discharged into the hopper before the latter will be depressed sufficient-ly to release the projection 12 from engagement with the stop 11 and periuit the hopper to rotate and discharge the grain therein. This grain then )asses through a discharge spout 15 at the lower end of' the roo hopper and is conveyed into any suitable re` ceptacle, the quantity of' the grain thus conveyed being determined by the number of rotations of the hopper. For the purpose fretarding the rotary movement of the iopper and preventing the hopper from turning backward a. number of springs 16 are mount-- ed upon the casing 9 so as to yieldingly engage the projections 12.

In the operation of thedevice the poises 14 mine the weight of the Grain necessary to overbalance thesame and depress the hopper. llfhen thus adjusted the grain from the deliveryspout 1 enters the compartment 5 of the hopper held under the saine unt-il the weight. of the grain within the compartment becomes sufficient to tilt the scale beam and lower. the hopper. The projection 12 which was in engagement with the stop 11 is then released therefrom, whereupon the hopper rotates through a quarter revolution and discharges the grain through the spout 15. As soon as this grain has passed from the hopper the poises 14 again overbalance the same and cause it t-o move upwardly so that the next project-ion 12 will engage with the stop 11 and hold the next, compartment- 5 in cope erative relation to the delivery spout 1. In this manner the various compartments of the hopper are successively filled and discharged and the quantity of grain passing "through the meter can be readily computed from the number et revolutions of the hopper.

HavinUr thus descpibed the invention, what is claimed as newis 1. In a grain meterv the combination of a casing, a scale beam mounted upon the easing, a rotary hoplper arranged within the casing and journa ed upon the scale beam, polses for the scale beam, means for delivering grain to the hopper, cross bars connecting opposite sides of the hopper, a stop carried by the casinCr and coperating with the cross bars to hold thev compartments of the hopper successively in coperative relation with the grain delivery means, and a plurality of spring members ca'rried by the easing and engaging the before mentioned cross bars upon the hopper to prevent accidental rotation thereof.

2. In a grain meter, the combination of a casing, a U'shaped scale beam mounted upon the casing, a rotary hopper arranged within the casing and journa-led between the arms of the U'-shaped scale beam, poises for the scale beam, means for delivering grain to the hopper, projections upon the hopper, a sto carried by the casingr and cooperating wit the projections to hold thel compartments of the hopper successively in cooperative relation with the grain delivery means, and a plurality of spring strips carried by the casing and engaging the before mentioned rojections upon the hopper to prevent accidental rotation thereof.

'In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.-

JOHN S. BLAKELY. [I i. s.] llVitnesses:

' THos. J. GARLAND,

C. B. LA'MBE. 

